Fansided

5 NFL teams that should draft Leonard Fournette

By John Buhler

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

LSU Tigers junior running back Leonard Fournette has decided to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. Here are five NFL teams that should draft him in the first round.

After three great years in the SEC as the LSU Tigers starting running back, junior Leonard Fournette has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2017 NFL Draft.

This comes as no surprise, as Fournette seemed like a player that was only going to play three years of college football any way. He was the No. 1 player in the 2014 recruiting class and projects as an early to mid-first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Here are five NFL teams that should consider drafting Fournette in the first round of this spring’s NFL Draft.

Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson during warmups before the game against the New England Patriots at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson during warmups before the game against the New England Patriots at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

53. . AFC. North. Cleveland Browns. 5. player

The Cleveland Browns are almost certainly going to have the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Through Week 13 of the 2016 NFL season, the Browns are the only winless team in the NFL at 0-12.

Yes, the Browns have a ton of needs to fill on their depleted roster besides running back, but would Cleveland consider taking Fournette in the first round? Cleveland could conceivably use the No. 1 overall pick on Fournette. However, they might move back into the No. 5 to No. 10 range to still draft him and get another pick or two from a team that really wants a franchise quarterback at No. 1.

Cleveland also has the rights to the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2017 first round pick from Philadelphia’s decision to move up to No. 2 to draft quarterback Carson Wentz out of North Dakota State University in the 2016 NFL.

Wentz has plateaued in his rookie season with the Eagles. Maybe the reeling Eagles get the Browns another Top 10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft? The pick that the Browns would be getting from the Eagles would be the most likely selection Cleveland would use on drafting Fournette.

Cleveland has options in the top-half of the first round. While they could go 0-2 again with first round picks like wasting them on Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel in 2014, the Browns could use their picks wisely for once and go with Fournette with one of these two first-round picks of theirs.

Home/NFL Draft